Validating IEEE 1547 Capabilities of DER Inverter Model Using a Real-Time Simulated Inverter Laboratory Testbed

Abstract

With higher renewable energy penetration in the electric grid, the need for electromagnetic transient (EMT) models of inverter based resources (IBRs) with grid support functions (GSFs) is inevitable. Validated EMT models of IBRs, especially inverter based distributed energy resources (DERs), will allow system planners, researchers and grid operators to properly understand the impact of these resources. In this regard, a real-time grid code testing architecture, which includes the modeling of a solar inverter with different GSFs, was developed. Then, the PV inverter GSFs were programmed for IEEE 1547 and the GSFs of the overall model were validated using the GSF test procedures from IEEE 1547.1 standard. The results were also compared with an actual commercial PV inverter unit. This real-time grid code testing platform is an important tool to model the GSFs of IBRs/DERs from different jurisdictions. Furthermore, associated test procedures could be refined during development by the working group.